Middle English Dictionary Entry
sempiterne adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | sempiterne adj. Also sempitern. |
| Etymology | L sempiternus; cp. OF (late 15th cent.) sempiterne. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Everlasting, eternal.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.104 : That is the god whos mageste Alle othre thinges schal governe, And his beinge is sempiterne.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)10.217 : O Iesse fflour, so hent and bolde vs heer To fle fro synne and derk fir sempiterne.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.647 : It longeth to a god for to be sempiterne.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.1586 : Than is oure feyth grounded on noo lye, But on swhiche thyng whiche is sempiterne.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)3.735 (v.1:p.37) : Seid verreyly, But God allone may no thyng [be] almyghty, Gode, grete, immensurable, and etern, Mercyful, omniscient, and sempitern.